Hamas has begun releasing Israeli hostages

12punto FOREIGN NEWS

The 2 Israeli hostages handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross have been transported to Israel by officials mediating the prisoner exchange. Hamas is set to release 4 more hostages today. If the 8th round of the hostage exchange is completed without incident, a total of 33 Israeli and approximately 2 thousand Palestinian hostages will have been released.

In exchange for 602 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, 6 Israeli hostages detained in Gaza are to be released by Hamas today. Hamas has returned two of the 6 hostages to the Red Cross, which is mediating the exchange. It was announced that the Red Cross has delivered the released Tal Shoham and Abera Mengistu to Israel.

According to Al Jazeera, the hostages were released at a refugee camp in the Nuseirat area of the Gaza Strip. The report stated that Palestinians gathered at the site where the hostages were released. It was reported that the Al-Qassam Brigades deployed additional troops to ensure security in the area. During the release of the hostages, the Brigades appeared on the stage set up for a press conference with flags bearing an 'olive tree' symbol.

Abu Obeida, spokesperson for the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, announced the names of the hostages to be released in the 8th round of the exchange. It was noted that the hostages to be returned are Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem-Tov, Omer Wenkert, Hisham al-Sayed, Tal Shoham, and Avera Mengistu. The Israeli press reported that Mengistu and al-Sayed had been held in Gaza for over 10 years.

HOSTAGE EXCHANGE TO END TODAY

The ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel went into effect on January 19. The two sides agreed on the mutual return of 33 Israeli hostages and more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners during the first 42 days of the three-stage ceasefire.

During this process, Hamas has delivered 22 Israeli hostages to Israel via the Red Cross, 19 of whom were alive and 3 of whom were deceased.

With the hostage exchange taking place today, the first stage of the ceasefire agreement will be completed. It was stated that negotiations regarding the status of the remaining detainees and hostages between the parties are ongoing.

News Source: 12punto